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Clarke to retire from ODIs

Sunday's Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand will be Michael Clarke's last one-day international.

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AFP

Written ByDejan Kalinic

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Australia captain Michael Clarke will retire from one-day
internationals (ODIs) after Sunday's Cricket World Cup final
against New Zealand.

Clarke announced the decision at his media conference in
Melbourne on Saturday.

Having previously hinted at perhaps playing on until the 2019
World Cup, Clarke said he made up his mind after Thursday's
semi-final win over India in Sydney.

"I know I've made the right decision. I told my team-mates 10
minutes ago. I told the selectors and James Sutherland about an
hour ago. So really the only people I spoke to were my family over
the course of the last 24 hours," Clarke said.

"And I've thought over the last few weeks about if there was a
chance I'd be able to make it to the next World Cup and as soon as
I answered that question in my own head, I think my decision was
made."

Clarke said he wanted the next captain of the ODI team - widely
expected to be Steve Smith - to have four years of preparation to
build their own squad ahead of 2019.

"It really helped me having that preparation to captain the team
that four years of being able to build my own team, set my own
style up as a captain," he said.

"I think that's given me my best chance to captain the team in
this tournament. I'd like the next captain to have that same
opportunity."

The 33-year-old will play his 245th ODI in the World Cup
decider, having made 7,907 runs at an average of 44.42 throughout
his 50-over career.

But Clarke said the emotion around his ODI retirement would make
no difference against New Zealand.

"It's a special game, there's no doubt about it. It needs to be
about the team and I want it to be about the team. I just said that
to my team-mates then," he said.

"I've been the one to come out and say it's not emotion, it's
skill that helps you win major games and major tournaments and
tomorrow will be no different."